Kenny Gendason returning to Douglas to lead wrestling program

Kenny Gendason is returning to Douglas, where he was the wrestling coach from 2011-2013. (Courtesy of Kenny Gendason/Douglas wrestling)

When Kenny Gendason was the head wrestling coach at Marjory Stoneman Douglas from 2011-2013, he also worked as part of the security team.

The tragic school shooting at the school in February that left 17 dead hit him even harder than most.

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“When I was doing security there, 95 percent of the time Building 12 was my building,” Gendason said. “I always look back, if I was still there, I would have been the first one rushing to that building.”

“It’s scary to think about.”

Chris Hixon did exactly that. Last week, Gendason agreed to become the next head wrestling coach at Douglas, a role that comes with its share of grief and expectations.

“This is my way to try and give back to this school and these kids,” Gendason said. “Douglas gave me my first opportunity, I’m familiar with the team, the school and I felt that I could come in and take over.”

Gendason, who has been the head coach at Monarch for five seasons, knows that this coaching job will come with circumstances that don’t exist anywhere else.

“It’s going to be different,” Gendason said. “We’ve already met with the kids and told them that a lot of eyes are going to be on you.”

Gendason and Danny Sanchez — Hixon’s assistant coach who coached the team through the postseason and will continue in his role with Gendason — have a strong nucleus returning from a team that placed second in the 3A-12 district tournament, just days after the shooting.

Last year’s state qualifiers Jason Wolk and Steven Erched both return along with five other regional qualifiers, including district champion Matthew Kelly.

Gendason is already working to preserve Hixon’s memory with the Douglas wrestling program. New team sweatshirts have Hixon’s name on the back between wings.

A Chris Hixon memorial tournament is also in the early planning stages.

“There was nobody else like him,” Gendason said of Hixon, who coached three sports at Douglas. “For him to go out of his way to coach so many kids while also being athletic director was special. He wasn’t just a fly-by-night coach, he worked hard in all that he did.”

“My goal is to continue that and build a big future for this team and this school.”